01x16 - The Pass

[bunniefuu]

Now, now, you're too big
a boy to be crying like that.

I'm not crying.
It's the wind.

Oh, yeah,
I should've known.

Jonesy, I don't care
what the reason is.

We shouldn't be leaving.

That's the way it is.

When w*r comes,
nobody wants to leave home,

the ones they love, there's
just no other choice, Andy.

Well, let's go.

Hey.

You men ready to leave?

Yes, lieutenant.

Let's go.

That's why you're
at Fort Preston, gentlemen.

What's left of B Company


after the ambush
massacred Platte River.

Ever see a man
after the Sioux squaws
finish with him?

What they do
with their knives?

Then you know
what you're here for.

The same thing could
happen to every ranch

and settlement
in the territory.

Lieutenant Ives.

Understand you have a scout
named Harper with your party.

Yes, major.

He's attached to the Laramie
Cavalry Reserve Unit

that reports next week.

Brought him in with
us for orientation.

Which one
of you is Harper?

Here, sir.

You'll be getting your
orientation on the run, Harper.

Been reassigned to scout for
Colonel Custer's 7th cavalry.

Yes, sir.

Draw supplies
and a fresh mount.

We have to catch up with Custer
and he has a 3-day start.

Yes, sir.

Say, you make
a pretty good soldier boy.

Yes, sir. Yes, sir.
Yes, sir.

What did you
want me to do?

Tell him to go find
Custer himself?

Now you're talking
about my kind of army.

You know, it looks like
they're holding off the w*r

just waiting
for Jess Harper to get here.

Naturally.

One thing worries me,
though, Slim.

What's the army gonna
do with you now?

Well,
there's one thing sure,

they're not gonna
make a cook out of me.

The cavalry's
got trouble enough.

You ready to go, Harper?

Yes...
Right with you, major.

Stay out of the way
of those Red Sticks, Jess.

It's what the army
is paying us for, isn't it?

See you, Slim.

Your name Sherman?

Yeah, that's right.

General Howard
wants you in his office.

Fine.
Who?

General Howard, the old man.
Follow me.

You will guide
a Gatling g*n detachment

and a mule train
with supplies

through here to a rendezvous
at the western end

of Moccasin Pass.

Hostile country all the way,
overrun by Sioux.

Now these supplies must
under no circumstance

fall into their hands.

- Understand?
- Yes, sir.

I do have a couple of questions
though, general.

Go ahead.

Who's the rendezvous with,

and what kind of supplies
are we taking in?

You will report
to Major Roger Davis.

He's been up there
for several months living
with fur trappers in a cave.

They've been able to report
a great deal of liaison

between the Cheyenne
nation and the Sioux.

Reports an almost constant
stream of emissaries

moving both ways
through the pass.

Well, this time of year,

Moccasin Pass is about the
only way open to the mountains.

That's why we must
be in a position

to deny their use of it.

If the Cheyenne
decide to join up

with their brothers
the Sioux,

I simply haven't
got the force

to fight a two-front
campaign this winter.

Well, I guess that answers
my other question.

I don't need anybody
to spell out

what those mules
will be carrying.

I didn't think
you would, son.

Good luck.

Thank you.

The old man said
when he gave me my orders

that you know this country
almost better than anybody.

That's not saying much.

Nobody would come in here if
they had a better place to go.

You did.

Yeah, about a year ago.

Came in after a deserter.

Beginning to look like
I should have stayed home.

Unless you like packing
this stuff around.

Well, if the mules
don't mind, I don't.

All right.

Say, what happens
if one of these lop-eared

goats stumbles
and goes down?

Well, if that happens,
we won't have to waste time

looking for the pieces.

Think that could
be a w*r party?

There's a good chance of it.

Coming on fast.

We can't fight them here,
there's no cover.

Let's make for those rocks.

All right.
All right, drive
them. Move out.

Wait a minute.
You run those mules and
that dynamite is gonna blow.

It's better than letting
the Sioux get it.

Drive them.

There's no time
for that Gatling g*n.

We got to stop
their first rush.

Take cover.

Save a b*llet
for yourself.

Better than dying
slow to pleasure

some squaw with a knife.

Look.

- Hi, Jess.
- Hi, Slim.

Colonel Custer,
this is Slim Sherman.

Hardly worth latherin'
our horses up chasin' 'em.

You headed for
Moccasin Pass
and Major Davis?

That's right.

Well, get on with it,
we thought you were hostiles.

Hey, the army made a mule
skinner out of you, huh?

Don't laugh.

Takes a lot of talent
to be a mule skinner.

Slim, what was that big flash
we saw when we rode up?

It sounded like an expl*si*n.

Well, that was
heat lightning.

Wouldn't hardly expect it
this time of year, would you?

Take it easy, huh?

Yeah.

Let's rejoin
the main body.

Well, we made it this far.

And there's Moccasin Pass

exactly where Major Davis
said it would be on his map.

Now if we can just
find that cave

so we all won't freeze
to death.

If this map is right,

we follow that hogback
for about 3/4 mile.

It better be right.

Has been up to now.

Brought us in the back door
without an Indian seeing us.

You know, you got to hand
it to them Red Sticks.

You wouldn't find them up
here this time of the year.

Takes a white man
to be that smart.

[ wind howling ]

Major Davis draws
a good map.

This is where
we leave the horses.

Where is the cave?

Map shows a trail leading
up that way about 1/4 mile.

Up.

How we are gonna get
all this stuff up there?

Same way the mules got it
this far, only on our backs.

That will take
a couple trips.

Looks like it.

Why can't we let
the mules take it up?

I don't know, sarge,
we'll probably find out.

Have your men
tether the animals.

Feed them and bed them down.
Then we'll get started.

All right,
look alive.

Let's get these
animals picketed.

All right, keep moving.

You're all right, soldier.

Next time you're baking
out in the desert,

remember how good
you had it up here.

It's a good army,
sergeant.

Better be.
Only one we got.

Let's move out.

Here's the cave, men.

We made it.

MAN: Hold it right there.
You're covered.

If Major Davis
isn't in there with you,

you better start sh**ting.

We can't go back.

Major Davis?

That's right.

We have orders
to meet him here.

He's out scouting
with my partner.

They've been gone
a couple of days.

I guess it'll be all right.
Come on in.

I'm Will Cooper.

- Slim Sherman.
- Sergeant Coffey.

Me and Ben Sears
been wintering up here,

running our trap lines
for the past 3 years.

Never seen nobody till
the major come along.

Now it's getting so crowded,

might as well be
running a hotel.

Yes, sir.

Me and Ben Sears
found this here cave.

Knowed right away
it was made to order.

The valley down below
is full of beaver

and all kinds
of wild animals.

Any Indians come this way
keep to the pass,

they never bother us.

Slim, somebody
coming up the trail.

It's my partner Ben Sears.

Who are these men?

They're troopers,
come looking for the major.

A little late.
He's dead.

Hey, Ben, where did
you get that squaw?

Call her a squaw?

This here white woman's
been living with the Cheyenne.

sl*ve probably.

I saved her, Will.

Didn't much want to be
saved, but I saved her.

Where's Major Davis?

I said he was dead.

Some of her friends
didn't like what we did.

Davis got shot in the scuffle,
fell off a ridge, 200 feet.

And you left him there
for the Indians to find?

There's a big snow
blowing up.

It will cover
our tracks here.

Wasn't nothing
I could do for Davis.

You're a liar.

Again.

I said you're a liar.

Major Davis wouldn't make
trouble with the Cheyenne,

not now, not with
what's at stake.

We was rescuing a white
woman from the Red Sticks.

Anything wrong with that?

Just one thing.

She's here
and Major Davis isn't.

We've got
a tough job to do.

It's going to be a lot
tougher without him.

Well, I don't know
nothing about that

but don't call me
a liar.

We're gonna have to
set up a 24-hour guard
on the woman.

We can't take a chance
of her getting away

and bringing the Cheyenne
down on us.

No need to do that.

I'll take care
of the woman
all by myself.

Personally.

No, you won't.

You understand this.

No one bothers her.

No one.

Anyone else
want to argue it?

No, Sherman,
we're with you,

but you made
one little mistake.

What's that?

You should've
k*lled him.

Soon or later
he's gonna k*ll you.

Why don't you eat?

You've had a bad time,
I know that,

as bad as times
can get.

Now don't worry about
Sears or the Indians.

As soon as
we're through here,

we'll take you
back with us

and you won't have to be
afraid of anyone anymore.

I give you my word.

[ speaking in
Cheyenne dialect ]

Go ahead and talk Cheyenne
if you want to,

I understand it.

No matter what talk you use,
it would still all be lies.

Why should
I lie to you?

Because
you're a white man.

You're white.

Only the color of
my skin is white.

Inside
I'm a Cheyenne.

[ rumbling ]

What's that?

Slide, way up on top.

Mountain don't like it
when too many folks

start pushing
each other around.

Get Ben Sears
out here.

As long as
the weather holds off,

we can start planting
this dynamite.

How much do you know
about this stuff?

I'm no expert.

I only used it for blasting
out tree stumps

on the ranch.

Well, this is a little
different operation.

Sure wish
the major was alive.

So do I.

Not much we can do
about that now.

But we can try knocking off
the top of that mountain.

We might get away
with it.

All right,
I'll break out Sears.

There's where
Major Davis said

he was gonna plant
the dynamite.

That makes sense.

You knock that ledge off
and you block the pass.

There is more than enough
snow up there to do it.

All right,
let's get busy.

Not me.

That's a great place
to get k*lled.

No more
than this.

Look,
I ain't under orders.

You are now.
Move.

All right, we'll place
the charges here,

space them about
every 12 feet.

Sarge,
the shovel.

Well, what are you
waiting for,

the spring thaw?
Start digging.

Sears,
keep those fuses dry.

Hey, sarge.

Yeah,
what's the matter?

How did we
get up here?

Orders,
and keep digging.

Orders from
General Howard?

Yeah.

Yeah, I'll bet
next month's pay

he doesn't even remember
where he sent us.

Major Davis should be
planting the dynamite

right about here.

If Sherman and Coffey
got through to him.

Any reason to believe
they didn't, sir?

No time
to get word back.

Latest reports have
the Cheyenne on the move.

They should be in the pass
area in force by tomorrow.

If Davis succeeds,

that's as far
as they'll get.

But if he fails,

we won't know it until
they're on our backs.

I can't afford to risk
having Custer's command

crushed between the Cheyenne
and the Sioux.

Draft orders
for him to withdraw.

Yes, sir.

Sir,
with your permission.

Yes?

If Custer withdraws,
the Sioux can turn in

an advance
on us directly.

That's the gamble
we'll have to take,

but at least I won't be
throwing away

the lives of the 7th.

Get that dispatch
off at once.

Yes, sir.

Dispatch rider
coming, colonel.

Probably
from headquarters.

My compliments
to General Howard.

Inform the general
that Colonel Custer

has developed
an eye ailment

which makes it impossible
for him to read dispatches.

If the general expresses
an interest

into the position
of the 7th cavalry,

tell him
we are advancing.

How did you
make out?

We got
the dynamite planted.

My hands started
to freeze up

before we could set
the fuses.

How's the girl been?

Well, up to now,
pretty well

but she sure doesn't
want any part of Sears.

Take a look.

Can't say
as I blame her.

Can you stand guard
a little while longer?

We're about
ready to cave in.

Sure.

What's wrong?

Oh, the animals.

I forgot
to feed them.

Wait up!

We got to keep moving.

They'll be trailing us.

They'll breathe too.

I say leave her
right where she is.

Look, I went through
planning to get her.

I ain't going to
leave her here now.

You can't carry her all
the way out, it's crazy.

I didn't mean
to hurt you.

Couldn't let you
start screaming,

turn out all those
blue bellies on us.

Ben, come on.

Right with you.

Now listen good.

You're gonna have
to go the rest of the way
under your own power.

Ben.

Shut up.
Cut out on if you want to.

I got business here
with a squaw woman.

She's too good
for Ben Sears.

But you weren't too good
for the Cheyenne
I found you with.

- He was my husband.
- Who said so?

The Cheyenne
medicine man?

You were his woman,
that's all you were.

Now it's just
you and me.

Slim.

Down here.

What's the matter?

The girl is gone,
Sears and Cooper, too.

- When?
- I don't know.

We were all asleep
when it happened.

They knifed the guard
and just took off.

Come on.

You can see it here,

looks like they were
half carrying her.

Still couple of
hours daylight.

- Do we go after them?
- I do.

Wait a minute,
that's too big a job.

- There's two of them.
- That can't be helped.

You stay here
and blow that pass

if I don't
make it back.

When the weather
eases off,

you scramble back up
the ledge with the fuses.

Right.

Ben!

It's that scout Sherman,
about 1/4 mile back.

Alone?

Yeah.

Good.

Let's get ready
for him.

Down there at that
next clearing.

Sears!

Did you get him, Ben?

You all right?

Better make it
back to the cave

before the weather
closes in again.

Come on.

It's getting dark,

starting to
freeze again.

We'll have to stop
and hold up till morning.

We'll get in here.

It's our only chance.

Come on.

Let's get moving.

Give me your hand.

Sherman.

Sherman!

Hang on to this,
we'll get you out.

You all right?

Yeah.

Thanks for
getting the sarge

and coming back.

I wasn't
looking for that.

Why,
because I'm a Cheyenne?

Sure glad you're gonna be
around for a while.

Lookout reports
a w*r party

massing at the other
end of the pass.

Well, I guess
it's about time

we blow the top of
that mountain off.

We can't.

When Sears left, he took
the fuses with him.

What's it
look like now?

Like every Cheyenne
big enough to sit a horse

is out there.

Not much chance
we can stop 'em.

Maybe not.

As long as
the ammunition holds out,

we can slow them
down a little.

We could k*ll
a lot of them,

but the survivors
will get through,

and when that happens,
we're dead.

And the 7th is trapped
between them and the Sioux.

What's your point?

We head out of here now
we're dead anyway.

They'd be on our backs
before we can cover

the first mile
of ground.

I'm not talking about
heading out, sarge,

I'm talking about stopping
them before they get here.

Grab one of these,
sarge, and follow me.

Keep your eyes open.

This is the craziest waste
of ammunition I ever saw.

The way I look at it,
we got nothing to lose.

Maybe you're right.

Will many of
the Cheyenne die?

Not if we can help it.

I want to block this end
of the pass off

with an avalanche
before they start
from the other end.

If I'm right,

I can set off
that dynamite
with a powder train.

There won't be
any fighting.

There won't be
any w*r either.

Thanks for your help.

It's kicking up again.

Can't work on that
exposed ledge when
it's like this.

Look at it this way,
Slim.

If we can't move,
neither can the Cheyenne.

I hope it works out
that way.

We'll get started
as soon as it lets up.

Sure. You call me.

You can rest, I'll let you
know when it's time.

Don't you trust me?

You know
the answer to that.

If it wasn't for you,
I'd be dead.

Well, then sleep now
while you can.

You can't quite figure
Slim out, can you, girl?

Fights for you,

kills to protect you,
and he asks nothing.

Maybe he ain't human,
you think?

It's very human.

I'm just not used to it
from a white man.

Guess there's a little
bad and good in all of us,

no matter
what color we are.

Yeah, I can't sleep.

I guess I'll take
a look around.

How long
have I been asleep?

Well, not long
enough to matter.

Hold me, please.

Are you sure
you're not confusing

gratitude
with something else?

I'm sure.

Gratitude has nothing to do
with the way I feel.

I'm glad to hear that.

I want you to be.

It couldn't have been
very pleasant

when you were captured
by the Cheyenne.

There were
worse things.

It began in Sedalia.

I lived with my uncle and he
treated me like a sl*ve.

The Cheyenne k*lled him
and made me watch him die

and then I was a Cheyenne
sl*ve for a year.

Now don't talk about it.

Doesn't hurt anymore
to talk about it.

Married a chief's son
and he died.

I'm sorry.

I am too.

I'm not sorry about
the way I feel right now,

this minute.

The weather is slackin' off,
time to go.

Stretch that out as far
as you can will you, Slim?

I'd like to have
about a 50-50 chance

of staying alive
after I set fire to it.

Your chances are going
to be better than that.

This is my idea,
that's my job.

You're the brains
of this outfit.

That don't take brains,
that's me.

Look, as soon as
we're through here,

you're gonna
go back to that g*n.

Slim, you got a woman
down there.

No arguments.

That's the end of
the powder, sarge.

Slim, making
a big mis--

[ g*nsh*t ]

Well, I guess
I win this argument.

I'm not going anyplace
with this leg.

- Sarge.
- I'm all right.

Get back to your g*n
after you start that fire.

I'm not going
to leave you.

You haven't got
any choice.

I can handle things
from here.

All right,
get goin'.

Swing this g*n
round.

Keep 'em pinned down,
I'm goin' back up.

You don't have to
talk about it

if you don't want to,
Slim.

It's not that, Andy,
it's being home.

Takes getting used to.

I heard about the girl,
Slim.

What was she like?

I didn't know her long enough
to answer that, Jess.

I wish I had.

Well, what about
the rest of the Cheyennes

after you closed
the pass?

Well, Andy, there wasn't
much they could do

except turn around
and go home.

We did the same.

Hey, I just thought
about something.

We got mustering-out
pay comin'.

It should have been
mailed to us by now.

It was mailed all right
and it's already spent.

What do you mean,
it's already spent?

Well, since you two
weren't back,

Andy and I figured we go
into business for ourselves.

That's right.

What kind of
business?

If you'd have been
a little more observant,

you'd have noticed
two new teams in the corral.

Andy and I figured
we'll start a relay station,

that is, if you two
military men don't object.

Never make
a go of it.

You think?

Not a chance
in a million.

Let's go
take a look.